PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Courses

A – INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS COURSES

These two sequences are for science, math, engineering, and computer science majors. Both satisfy the new GE requirements.

  • General Physics I,II (75201/75202): This is our calculus-based introductory sequence, and is the physics requirement for many, though not all, of the aforementioned majors. The major part of “I” is classical mechanics; the major part of “II” is electricity and magnetism. Both are demanding and time consuming; a casual effort that you think will get you through with a C- usually results in a lower grade. Although the course is calculus-based, the math that trips up most students is algebra and trigonometry! If you are a science major who intends to do graduate work, this is the sequence you should take regardless of the official requirement. Modern research in many of these areas is highly quantitative; people who know physics (and mathematics) usually have an advantage over people who don't. Typical text: Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, “Fundamentals of Physics”.

  • Fundamental Physics I, II (75221/75222): If your major does not require a calculus-based physics course, you can take these two courses. Algebra and trigonometry are the required mathematical skills. Most people consider this sequence easier than the calculus-based one; the courses cover more topics, but in less depth. Typical text: Cutnell and Johnson, “Physics”.

For non-science majors, we have several courses in which the emphasis is more on physical intuition, and less on mathematical formalism. These also satisfy the new GE requirements.

  • Physics for the Inquiring Mind (75100): This is a 3-credit course that deals with a variety of basic ideas in classical and modern physics. Meetings are held in a laboratory so that the instructor can combine lecture, discussion, and experiment as needed. Typical text: Hewitt, “Conceptual Physics”.

  • Exploring the Solar System (12201): This course deals primarily with the planets, the Sun, and the Moon. It is limited to about 40 people, which is the capacity of the College's planetarium. Typical text: Fraknoi, “Voyages Through the Universe”.

  • Exploring the Universe (12202): This course covers large-scale features of the universe such as stars, galaxies, and nebulae. It also discusses important theoretical issues such black holes and the origin of the Universe. It is limited to about 40 people, which is the capacity of the College's planetarium. Typical text: Fraknoi, “Voyages Through the Universe”.

B – UPPER LEVEL CORE COURSES FOR THE MAJOR

These are designed primarily for physics majors, although students from other fields with the appropriate math and physics background are welcome.

  • Applied Mathematics I, II (3 credits each): This is a one year sequence designed to give physics majors the mathematical tools needed for their physics electives. You are expected to have taken Calculus I and II. Topics include vector calculus, ordinary and partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, and complex variables. Typical text: Kreyszig, “Advanced Engineering Mathematics”.

  • Mechanics I, II (2 credits each): This is the first really hard physics course because the problems are a big leap up from those in General Physics. To ease the transition, the first course moves relatively slowly, dwelling on the mathematics when necessary (most likely you will be taking Applied Mathematics at the same time, so each course can reinforce the math encountered in the other). The second course moves faster. Topics include energy conservation, oscillations, central force motion, dynamics of systems of particles, Hamilton and Lagrangian formulations. Typical text: Thornton and Marion, “Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems”.

  • Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits): This is the study of moving and stationary electric charges, and the fields associated with them. Vector calculus is used extensively; you will have covered this in Applied Mathematics. Topics include electric fields, electric potential, Laplace’s equation and its solution; laws formulated by Lorentz, Biot-Savart, Ampere, and Faraday; Maxwell’s equations. Typical text: Griffiths, “Introduction to Electrodynamics”.

  • Computational Physics (3 credits): In this course, you learn some important numerical problem solving techniques and apply them to a variety of physics problems, one of which serves as your final project. It is expected that you know how to program in C or C++, and can pick up the essentials of Visual C++ primarily on your own (actually the instructor will give you a tutorial to get you started). The instructor supplies a downloadable text at no cost.

  • Physical Chemistry I, II (3 credits each): This sequence covers the physical principles that underlie observations made in the field of chemistry. “P-Chem” is where you will learn a lot of thermodynamics, statistical physics, and atomic and molecular structure, the latter being a good foundation for Quantum Physics. This course is offered by the Chemistry department. Typical text: Atkins, “Physical Chemistry”.

  • Modern Physics Laboratory (1 credit): In this course, you do a small number of experiments each of which extends over several weeks. You work primarily on your own, and ultimately learn how to use some of the Department’s experimental equipment.

  • Optics (3 credits): Unlike General Physics II, which emphasizes geometrical optics, this course emphasizes physical optics. Topics include harmonic motion, interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, coherence, polarization, scattering, holography, fiber optics. Typical text: Hecht, “Optics”.

  • Relativity (1 credit): This is essentially a short course in the special theory of relativity. Topics include the invariance of the speed of light (in vacuum), Lorentz transformations, length contraction, time dilation, simultaneity, momentum and energy relations, mass-energy equivalence, relativistic Doppler effect and its use in GPS. Typical text: Moore, “Six Ideas that Shaped the World: Unit R”.

  • Quantum Physics I (3 credits): This is the formal study of quantum mechanics. Topics include interpretation of the wave function; the time independent Shroedinger equation and its solution for various potentials; eigenvalues and energy quantization; one electron atoms; magnetic dipole moments and spin; multi electron atoms. Typical text: Griffiths, “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics”.

  • Senior Project (3 credits): In consultation with a faculty advisor you pick a problem of interest to you, solve it, write it up into a final paper, and make a public presentation about it. The problem should not be too difficult – you should be able to finish it in a semester – and can be theoretical, experimental, or computational. (It is not a bad idea to start thinking about this in your junior year to get a head start.)

C – ELECTIVES OFFERED THIS YEAR

  • Non-Linear Dynamics (3 credits, fall): Dynamics deals with systems that evolve over time. Non-linear dynamics deals with systems where the principle of superposition fails. That is, you can’t break a problem down into parts, solve each part, and put the partial solutions together to get an answer. Topics include flows on a line and on a circle, phase portraits, bifurcations, limit cycles, chaos. Typical text: Strogatz, “Non-Linear Dynamics and Chaos”.

  • Molecular Modeling (3 credits, spring): Details to be announced